The BGN News Archive

May 25, 2015

Andy California at the Mike's Monster Guitar show

I caught the Insect Surfers at the Cuisine en Locale on Wednesday.
They formed in back 1979 and played Boston though the years, they played the
Paradise, The Rat and the Underground and were on bills with The Lyres and MOB.
Yet there were only about 40 people for the mid-week surf themed show.

SPF4

I heard a few songs from openers SPF4 and they were all well done originals.
They were strictly in the surf band mold and did it well.

Tsunami of Sound

Tsunami of Sound is also straight ahead surf. They
do an equal amount of originals and covers. TSOS play a lot of surf nights around
town and its a cool thing. It reminds me of the Rockabilly nights we go
to. Its familiar genre music done by musicians who love it. TSOS sometimes
has a go-go girls but not on this night...but they did have the fake fire pots.
We found out later that the bass player had an accident involving his hand and
didnt think he could play but he sounded perfect, I couldnt tell
that there was a problem at all. The drummer was a stand out. He was mugging
throughout and having a good ole time and we were too.

Insect Surfers

Dave Arnson of The Insect Surfers was on the
dance floor moving all around and then under and through peoples legs.
He knew Kenne Highland and Ken Kaiser (who were both at the gig)
from their days in Washington, DC. I talked to him a while. He loves Dick Dale
as one would expect but also Link Wray and his top influence is John
Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and once you know that a
lot comes into focus when he plays. As The Insect Surfers get on stage I can
see Dave has the same type of guitar are Cipollina (not a usual surf
guitar) and his playing sometimes is smack dab in the middle of the Cipollina
style.
As the generous set goes on you can see Daves creativity and genre stretching
playing. He still has that early punk spirit of adventure in his compositions.
The songs are always doing something that defies the surf genre but is not so
far out that you couldnt call it surf if you wanted. He makes sure everyone
in the band is featured. Its actually in the way the songs are written
where the spotlight will move to alternating instruments.

Insect Surfers

The songs are more complicated than usual surf songs. There are lots of times
when the two guitarists are interacting with complimentary tandem leads, contrary
call and response or simultaneous soloing: all a treat for the ears and mind.
The writing also frees the bass from playing a stock figured bass line; hes
free to be melodic. That was refreshing to hear.
There were many beach oriented songs but also a salute to the balalaika where
they played high on the neck and imitated the picking of the balalaika. In a
song about small dolphins they used several musical and mechanical tricks to
imitate a dolphin sound. The only lyrics came in the salute to crap cars in
the chorus as band and audience chanted Pinto, Pacer, Duster, Gremlin.
To me the whole set was reminding me of the early punk groups who were attacking
the stale rock conventions of the seventies and the beauty of this is that the
Insect Surfers still have the spirit here in 2015: another good mid-week
night.

Cuisine en Locale is getting a higher profile with more frequent gigs
and good thing too since the news of TTs closing surfaced at the beginning
of the week.

A lot of people are waiting for the closing weeks in July
to catch some exciting shows (like Scruffy The Cat on July 25th) at the
TT's
Farewell Blowout 7/16-25 but I found myself there on Thursday to catch
Bent Shapes. Something about Bent Shapes brings a smile to my face. I
think its just the joy they infuse into the music and performance. They
were born to play nerd indie rock.

Weather

The group Weather was in the throes of their last two songs as a got
there. The music was emotional and energetic. They seemed to have their fans
who were all in the listening room. There were about 50 people in the club.

TW Walsh

TW Walsh I found hard to peg. They were all good players. The bass player
had some runs that made the songs click in the right way.

Bent Shapes

If anything I liked the Bent Shapes more this timethan last. They also played the 2x4sBridgeport Lathe
this time. They make it their own by adding some fills and some jamming at the
end. They play it with more punch than the single. Just a nice job and a perfect
cover for them. The rest was mostly the same songs as last time. They have lots
of guitar interplay; they seem to be very aware of that, you can tell from the
arrangements. They seem like a very Boston band to me and I hear echoes of the
Propeller label groups and the Underground scene.

They'll be playing Boston
Hassle's Grass Stains festival on Saturday, May 30 at Ringer
Park in Allston, where Blowfish used to go sledding when he was a kid.
Ringer never got any respect but this last decade the community has done their
work and raised its profile and reputation.

Also this week we got confirmation that Weirdo Records
was closing. Just a few weeks ago Eric Law brought members of the Meatmen
there and there was a 75% off sale. Thats was sure sign closure was
ahead. Then there was the
time we will always remember buying records from Angela Sawyer
just before she opened the Weirdo storefront. It was at her apartment which
she had stacked with CDs and those in the know would show up to crawl
around her living room picking up buys; a unique experience. Angela had that
esoteric taste and that store was packed with the most interesting stuff. Sawyer
said in her good bye email to her customers that she wants time to do other
things and we cant blame her for that. We punkers love our record stores
and with each closing that part of our lifestyle is ending. Angela will also
be performing with Moshi Moshi I Am the Decider as part of the Grass
Stains festival at Ringer Park on May 30th. Besides that she's got
a ton of projects on going and you can follow them by visiting her
website.

On Sunday we found ourselves back at TTs for
an all-day two year anniversary celebration of Mikes
Monster Guitarstore.

Steph of Mike's Monster Guitars

Mike who has been in bands for years opened his store at
the site of Sandys on Mass Ave. Every Boston rocker for decades visited
this store between Harvard and Central Square. They would have used guitars
in the window that attracted rock musicians like moths. Mike continues the tradition
with some of the coolest looking guitars you can find. Right now he could use
the photos of them in his Guitar
Gallery, add a description and that would be a killer coffee table book.
The show started at 1 pm with Mike and Steph playing as Hambone
Skinny

Andy California at the Mike's Monster Guitar show

Unfortunately we didnt get there until 3:30 when Andy
California played (the name is a riff on Randy California the guitarist
for Spirit). This is Andy McBain from The Monsieurs. We knew he
did a solo blues type thing but we couldnt imagine what that would be
like. Andy sits on stage like an old blues guy but ya know he looks like Andy
with a Celtics boxy hat and print shirt. He has a microphone on a length of
flexible stand duct taped to his guitar.
I didnt know he could play guitar but in another awesome
moment in a line of awesome moments that Andy has shown us
he proceeds to play a fine fingerstyle guitar. He plays a Chet Atkins style
picking where the bass notes are always there on the beat and he plays melodically
on the higher strings. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
The set was indeed bluesy. He roamed around a bit, on the
dance floor then into the bar area. At one point he was singing to a child perched
on top of the room divider. It was so sweet .yes, sweet. Just add it to
that list of awesome moments. (And you can see him as well at Grass
Stains this weekend!)

The Worried from RI

I have to admit that I wandered around and didnt give The Worried
enough attention. They were the rockingest group there by far. They were
cranking it out. The guitarist had a growling guitar.

Triple Thick

I snapped to when Triple Thick came on. We love what
they do and how they do it; short, tasty garage punk with a no frills delivery.
They had an ace up their sleeve with Charles Hanson on guitar. Hanson
added some adornment to the body of the songs and strong solos here and there
 hes so good. Its those songs we love in the end though. I
always want to take the set list and talk to them about each song, asking, is
this a cover and where did this come from?. They have so many
CDs with nuggets everywhere and most of those are originals (http://www.triplethick.com/
). Great set.

Peter OHallaran and family

Meanwhile this is a very social afternoon gig. The Peter OHallaran
had is family there. Sarah from WMBR had her two kids and her mother
there. Also at the show was Paula Whorsley, Brett Milano, Meg Ormond, Jon Scott
from Butterscott, John Keegan, John Douherty, Matt Burns, Michele Meadows and
Larry , Janice Clougherty, Andrea Gillis (preggers), Cal Cali, Tom from Mung,
Johnboy Franklin.

The Dogmatics

The closers were The
Dogmatics. These guys have history at this point and when they play
that history infuses the music. Now they represent that whole time and place
of the early eighties on the Boston Rock scene and they know it. When they play
Thayer Street I almost get emotional; this from a band that many would
have passed off as a light hearted party band at the beginning. Of course they
have that. The twist is that the songs are so good you remember every one and
as we know now they stand up over time.
They play a lot of the faves: Pussy Whipped, Sister Serena,
Teenager Lament etc. They did a cover of the early punk song Picture
My Face by the Canadian Teenage Head. They did up DMZ'sBall Me Out. They also play Thats Alright Mama with Peter
OHalloran playing some of Scotty Moores original licks and some
of his own C+W accents.

Mike of Mike's Monster Guitars

Mike came on stage and thanked everyone and urged the Dogmatics to play a few
more songs. I loved that.

Then it was over, around 6:30 I think. We did a lot of yapping
even after that. It was a comfortable and homey sort of afternoon gig. Im
left with an urge to hit Mike's
Monster Guitars soon.

So with that said.....here are some shows that are happening this week....

May 28 (Thursday)
OK it's officially summer when Cal Cali gigs start popping up around town! The
Cal Cali Band and Randy Black & the Heathcroppers are at Sally
O'Briens in Union Sq Somerville.

May 28 (Thursday)
Butterscott is having a CD Release Show With special guests Viva
Gina, My Own Worst Enemy and Mick Mondo at Cuisine en Locale . Doors
are at 7, music actually starts at 8PM!!

May 29(Friday)
It's the Awesome Day Fest Kick Off party at O'Brien's with Never
Got Caught, GOZU, Hey Zeus and The Heave-Ho

May 29(Friday)
ManRay closed 10 years ago so this Friday is "X The Manray 10 Year
anniversary" at the Paradise. There will be ManRay Head Resident
DJ Chris Ewen, a guest set from DJ Addam Bombb, Bartender Extraordinaire Terri
(Teresa Niedzwiecki), your Hostess Xtine, The Delicious Dancers, special guest
announcer Latex Lily, a Hubba-Hubba fashion show, performances by Complete Destruction
(Miss Gay RI 2015), Mary Widow, Mizery McRae, UNKNOWN PLEASURES and more! Of
course you have to dress for the occasion!!

May 30(Saturday)
This is Awesome Day in Allston when O'Brien's, The Wonder Bar, Great
Scott's and The Model all have music going on at various times throughout
the day. it's $20 for a pass to all of it!! Check out the website for the listings
and times: Awesome Day in Allston

May 30(Saturday) Boston Hassle 's
Grass Stains Festival at Ringer Park in Allston. Starts at Noon and
its FREE. There's two stages: electric and acoustic...here's some of who'll
be playing: Bathaus, Gerty Farish, Al Marantz and the Piffs, Bent Shapes,
Moshi Moshi I am the Decider, Andy California, Jesse Collins, Squirrel Flower,
Anjimile. This will be the first of several outdoor festivals this summer
for Boston Hassle.

May 30(Saturday)
A Crash Course for the Ravers WMFO 95.1 1-4PM has The Forz today
plus great music and stuff.

May 30(Saturday)LOVE LOVE celebrates the release of their debut album (recorded
at Q Division Studios and Squid Hell) with special guests Tanya Donelly,
The Needy Sons (with Bill Janovitz) and Jenny Dee & The
Deelinquents at the Lizard Lounge. Music actually starts at 8:30. (FB
event page)

May 30(Saturday)Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Weird
Womb, Cask Mouse and DJ Panda are at Great Scott's

May 30(Saturday)Mars, Horse Mode and Sue's Guitar are at the Greek American
Club in Union Sq Somerville

May 30(Saturday)
Reddy Teddy are at the Rhumbline up in Gloucester.

May 31(Sunday)
Roy Sludge Trio is at State Park in Kendall Sq- this is a evening
show.

May 31(Sunday)
Wow Peter Greenberg is joining our pal Max Demata and his band
Sonic Daze at the Pelican Pub in Bari, Italy! That is SO cool!!

And coming
up after this week we have.......

June 4(Thursday)Motobunny, The Charms, Watts and Greg Allen's Fringe Religion
are at TT's. Enjoy the TT's shows while you can!!

June 6(Saturday)Fox Pass is at Club Bohemia at The Cantab.

June 6(Saturday)
At Tavern at the End of the World you can get MOTO, Fireking and
Even Twice.

June 6(Saturday)Muck and The Mires, The Forz and The Woggles are at The
Middle East. Doors are at 7pm- its an early evening show - and its $10 at
the door! FB Event
page ...buy
tix here

June 6(Saturday)Jittery Jack is up in Manchester-by-the-Sea at 7 Central and it's
FREE!!

June 7(Sunday)The Wrong Chaneys In Residency Night #1 with special guests The Knock
Ups, Night Slice at the Midway

June 13(Saturday)
Taxi Driver, Honest John, The Pink Parts and SPO are at The Middle
east Up and this is an early evening show starting at 6PM. $10.

June 13(Saturday) at The Midway - The Kurt Baker Band (from Barcelona - 1
of only 2 US appearances), Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, The Connection
and Kris Rodgers and The Dirty Gems...wow now that's a great show!! (FB
event page)

June 18(Thurs
day) Vivi'D Presents : GBH along with Total Chaos,
The Welch Boys and Urban Waste at The Middle East down. GBH
ruled when they played the ME Down last year!!! (Check out our review b)

June 19 & 20 (Friday
& Saturday) it's the Girls in the Garage Music Fest
with you guessed it bands with females in them, all at the Lizard Lounge!!
For both nights doors are at 7, Music starts at 8PM Check
the FB page for set times and to (eventually) buy tix. Check out the particulars
below, that's a whole lot of amazing bands!!!

June 19(Friday)
Stars Like Ours (feat. Michelle Paulhus and Kristen Edmonston),
The Black Souls, The Charms, Petty Morals, The Evil Streaks and
The Dents

June 19(Friday)
Gymnasium, The Titanics and
Devil On Horseback are at The Midway

June 20(Saturday)Cujo, Drab, Axemunkee, Andrea Gillis Band, The Downbeat 5 and The
Other Girls

June 20(Saturday)
Rockabilly original Sleepy La Beef played a few punk clubs back in the
day. Hes turning 80 and having a birthday party gig at Johnny Ds
, also on the bill are Roy Sludge, Andrea Gillis and Marc Panasky along
with DJ Easy Ed spinning discs and setting the mood for the celebratory
evening. Check
it out and buy tix here. Music starts at 7:30 folks!

June 20(Saturday) The Knock Ups, Thalia Zedek Band, plume and Andrew Scandal are
at The Midway (a night show)

June 20(Saturday)
You folks in RI check out this show!: The Monsieurs (12), Thee Itchies
(at 11PM) Party Pigs (10 PM) and The Neutrinos (9:30) at Dusk
in Provi. (FB
event page)

June 24(Wednesday)
The Adolescents and The Weirdos with Laughing Stock
are at The Brighton Music Hall.

June 27(Saturday)The Scrapes, The Ungraded, The Swindlers and Yeehaw Jihad are
at The Midway. This is a 4-8PM show.

June 27(Saturday)
It's a Spectacular Birthday party at Cuisine en Locale for GRCB-
Girls Rock Campaign Boston. It's their 5th Birthday and they are doing
it up in style with an ALL AGES carnival themed party 6-10PM --Birthday Cake
(a real one!), Carnival Games & Creative Activities, Trivia and Raffles,
Temporary Tattoo Station, Photo Booth, DJ SIT N SPIN dance party, Local female
rock celebrities playing covers of GRCB band's original songs and tons more
cool stuff. Here the
FB pageso you can stay up to date an all the happenings.

July 5 (Sunday)Caged Heat (yup
with Chilly Kurstz, they're back!) , Greg Allen's Fringe Religion,
The Low Babies and Lady Pilot are at The Midway. This is an afternoon
show at 4PM! Here's a recent
interview with Chilly on Blowing Smoke.

July 10 (Friday) Mr. Airplane Manare
back in town with The Monsieurs and Party Pigs are at Cuisine
en Locale (FB
event page)

July 11 (Saturday) Mudhoney along with
White Dynomite will be at The Brighton Music Hall

July 11 (Saturday)it's official The
Gizmos (and a TON of other bands) are playing Mutant Fest II
at the Blockhouse in Bloomington IN. FB
event page

July 14 (Tuesday) - WHAT a great show this
will be The Rezillos with Petty Morals and Casanovas in Heat
at Johnny D's. And the Rezillos have a new full length CD out. There
will be a CD and a limited edition vinyl album available at the shows !! Get
tix here.

July 18 (Saturday)Mission of Burma
opens for The Foo Fighters and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones at
Fenway Park

July 22 (Wednesday)Jaz Coleman
founding member of Killing Joke is doing a Spoken Word performance at
The Middle East Down. its al about his new book: "Letters from Cythera".
Jaz will delve into his many experiences that have influenced his philosophical
outlook on life and also discuss, Supersynthesis, a principle which has facilitated
his many accomplishments including acting, conducting, singing, composing, geometry,
architecture, and occult history. Tix
available here. This one will be different, there's seating and VIP
seating tix for this show.

July 24 (Friday) WOW! check this out: Bim
Skala Bim and the Pajama Slave Dancers are at The Middle East
Down along with Brunt Of It, Zeme Libre and The Porter Squares

July 26 (Sunday)Screeching Weasel,
plus The Queers and The Mr. T. Experience are at The Royale.
You canget tix here. This is a 6PM show!!

Mitch from Triple Thick

July 26 (Sunday) Matinee show at The
Middle East Up with Band Without Hands, The Knock Ups, Radio Compass,
Happy Little Clouds. Doors are a 1PM

July 30 (Thursday) There's a mega hardcore
show at Cuisine en Locale with Power Trip, Foreseen, Boston Strangler,
Peacebreakers, Freedom, Fury, Red Death, Intent, CIAC and Take Control.
Music starts at 6:30 SHARP doors are at 6.

July 31 (Friday) THE DAMNED: Dont
You Wish That We Were Dead documentary is FINALLY playing in Boston!!
It's at the Regent Theater at 7:30. You can buy
tix here. Watch
the trailer here.

August 3 (Monday) Tsunami of Sound
and The Vista Cruisers are at Opus Underground, Salem.

August 6-8 (Thursday - Saturday)Boston
Fuzzstival 2015 is at The Middle East Down. The Fuzztival highlights
"the best bands in the region that make psychedelic/fuzz/garage/surf rock"
and its goal is "to build bridges within the local music community."
Stay tuned for the lineup and more info keep checking their FB
page!

August 8 (Saturday) - Head over to Store
54 to help Bob Colby celebrate his birthday (two days early) with
The Rationales and My Own Worst Enemy!